– but staying there is even more difficult.

It’s one of the great truisms in sport and shapes as the biggest challenge for the Warriors in 2024.

Last season wasn’t a complete miracle, though at times it seemed like one.

After finishing second last in 2022, the club rebounded in a spectacular way, with their first top four finish since 2007.

It was a campaign of overachievement, as they won a truckload of games (17) and reached the NRL preliminary final, capturing a new following across the nation along the way.

So what comes next?

The Warriors will want to avoid patterns of recent history. In 2018 they enjoyed a stellar season, capitalising on a 5-0 start to return to the playoffs after seven years, finishing only two points behind the minor premiers. But they crashed the following year – not helped by Shaun Johnson’s controversial exit – to finish 13th. It was even worse in 2012. After the appearance in the 2011 grand final, with plenty of young talent coming through, the Warriors seemed to be on the cusp of a golden era. It didn’t happen, as they never recovered from coach Ivan Cleary’s fateful exit and slumped to 14th.

The good news?

A repeat of such slides is highly unlikely. The club has stronger foundations now, particularly with the support staff around head coach Andrew Webster. The current squad is also superior to those previous examples and there has been minimal player turnover, with Josh Curran and Bayley Sironen the only front line departures.

They’ll benefit from a full pre-season under Webster and they have faith and certainty in what works, compared to last year when everything was new, with Webster as a rookie NRL coach and eight prominent recruits settling into the team. Youth and talent abounds with room to improve and the starting point is so much higher than last year.

However, there are considerable challenges. The surprise element that was so successful – particularly in the first half of 2023 – is gone and opposition teams will be much more prepared for the Warriors’ threats. The team also has to deal with huge levels of expectation; fans no longer journey to Mt Smart in hope, they make the pilgrimage to see victories, regardless of the opposition.

The Warriors were also fortunate with their key players in 2023. Shaun Johnson managed 25 games, the most of his long career. Prop Addin Fonua-Blake played 26 while Tohu Harris only missed one match from May onwards.

Johnson is 33 years old – can he repeat that annus mirabilis of last season? Harris turned 32 in January. The Warriors also have to navigate a marginally tougher schedule, including four top eight teams (Cronulla, Melbourne, Canberra and Newcastle) in the first month and a tricky run home. And traditional heavyweights like the Rabbitohs, Eels and Roosters are all expected to bounce back – after below par seasons by their standards – which will squeeze the top of the ladder, while strugglers like the Dragons and Bulldogs must surely improve.

The wildcard factor is Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. His return is a considerable fillip, though the former fullback will take time to learn the centre position. The club is also expected to sign another forward ahead of the season, while also finding a long term replacement for Fonua-Blake, who will join the Cronulla Sharks at the end of this season.

So what will happen? You can expect more good times. A repeat of last year’s heroics won’t be easy but the Warriors will reach the top eight again and should remain among the primary contenders.

MICHAEL BURGESS – Sports Writer